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Swine flu vaccine close as Australia death toll rises
Melbourne (AFP) June 29, 2009 Australian researchers Monday said a swine flu vaccine could be ready in months as the worst-hit Asia-Pacific country reported two more deaths linked to the virus, taking the total to six. With Australia's number of cases nearing 4,000, University of Queensland scientists said they had produced the country's first batch of a vaccine developed in the United States using caterpillar cells. Researcher Anton Middelberg said the company behind the FluBlok vaccine -- Connecticut-based Protein Sciences Corporation -- planned to run clinical human trials in the United States, Mexico and Australia. "We are expecting Australia will be one of the first to benefit from this new technology," professor Middelberg said. "It all depends on the regulatory process but I'd say we are months away from a swine flu vaccine," he added. Under an agreement between the Australian and US researchers, Protein Sciences sent the genetic material needed to create FluBlok to the University of Queensland, which then produced the vaccine in its laboratory. While it is not yet registered for use in Australia, Middelberg said he hoped clinical trials could be carried out as quickly as possible. Protein Sciences said in a statement last week that the vaccine would be ready for trials by mid-July. The vaccine is made by infecting caterpillar cells, a revolutionary approach which the company says means it can be manufactured faster than traditional methods using chicken or mammal eggs. Swine flu has hit 3,912 people in Australia including six deaths related to the disease in the past 10 days. The two latest victims, aged 50 and 85, both had pre-existing medical conditions before contracting the virus, officials said. "The 50-year-old was being treated for a life-threatening cancer and was later diagnosed" with the A(H1N1) virus, said Rosemary Lester, Victoria state's deputy chief health officer. "He died while receiving treatment in hospital. "The 85-year-old man also had a range of underlying medical conditions and was being treated in hospital. These pre-existing conditions made him more susceptible to any influenza-like illnesses." Seven people with swine flu have died in Australia, but all had other conditions. The virus was later ruled out as the cause of death in one of the cases. The disease has infected nearly 60,000 worldwide and killed 263, according to the World Health Organisation. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Quarter of a million Malawians on free HIV drugs: presidentBlantyre (AFP) June 28, 2009 Malawi is supplying 250,000 HIV positive citizens with free anti-retrovirals (ARVs) and plans to start producing anti-AIDS drugs locally, President Bingu wa Mutharika said Sunday. "Some 250,000 Malawians are receiving ARVs. We are doing well because many of these could have died by now," Mutharika said at an AIDS candlelight memorial on the outskirts of the commercial capital Blantyre. ... read more |
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